The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) runs in cooperation with the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) the Federation/Länder Dioxin Database.

The WebService: www.pop-dioxindb.de was developed in cooperation with the partners Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health (StMUG) and The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).

From this site you have access to backgroundinformation, results of monitoring programmes and up-to-date information of the Federal Environment Agency on the subject Dioxins.

 

 

www.POP-DioxinDB.de
Monitoring programmes, data and backgroundinformation








News

Federation/Laender
 
 2013-03-27 PCB in beef
The results of a discussion about PCBs in beef in February 2013, with research looking at pathways in the environment and transfer of PCBs in beef, are available on the UBA website. Presentations of the lectures are available for download.  more... 		uba 
 
 BMELV Second General Administrative Regulation (draft)
In the current draft of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection precises national food regulations, e.g. the "control program feed" is included into the monitoring system.   more... 		uba 
 
 2013-03-12 Expert Talks on PCB problem in North Rhine Westphalia
On February 19th at the Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf lectures on PCB were held. Among other things, the health effects of volatile organic compounds for children were analyzed. On the website of the national office, the presentations are available for download.   more... 		uba 
 
 2013-02-06 Baltic Sea cod poisened with dioxins
In studies commissioned by the State Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Fisheries M-V exceedances of dioxins, furans and PCBs in livers of Baltic Sea cod were determined. "With the measured values ​​(...) during a single consumption of 200 g cod liver the tolerable human intake for about 48 weeks is fully utilized."   more... 		uba 
 
 2013-02-04 New publication: "environment protection - pillar of food safety"
The new brochure of the Federal Environment Ministry informs about harmful dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment and in food. That has been done to reduce their emissions to the environment and to prevent their occurrence in the food production. The document also offers helpful information for individuals to reduce the intake of undesirable substances over foods.   more... 		uba 

International
 
 SE New Dioxin Toolkit released
The Toolkit for Identification and Quantification of Releases of Dioxins, Furans and Other Unintentional POPs is intended to assist parties in establishing release inventories of unintentional POPs that are consistent in format and content, ensuring that it is possible to compare results, identify priorities, mark progress and follow changes over time at the country level, as well as regional and global levels.   more... 		uba 

Federation/Laender
 
 2013-01-10 Dioxin crisis center in Lower Saxony
In the future a crisis center in the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture in Hanover will be active when dioxins are found in larger amounts of eggs or signs of an EHEC epidemic appear. Through the interplay of IT systems, various agencies are coordinated. The central concern is the health of the consumer, with the help of the new crisis management faster and more effective responses can be achieved.   more... 		uba 
 
 2012-11-08 Food safety report 2011
Nationwide Monitoring Plan 2011 - Joint report by federal and state governments.   more... 		uba 
 
 2012-09-28 North Rhine Westphalia: repeatedly egg contaminations
The NRW Ministry of Consumer Protection warns of contaminated free-range eggs. In a press release the stamp number of affected products is announced.   more... 		uba 
 
 2012-09-25 4th Evaluation on dioxins and PCBs in food of BVL
The Federal Office of Food Safety and Consumer Protection released an updated analysis of the data of the Dioxin Database Federation/Länder. In addition to series of statistical analyzes, maximum level exceedences are named.   more... 		uba 
 
 2012-08-09 Saxony-Anhalt publishes 2nd dioxin report
The report published by the State Bureau of Environmental Protection provides information on the levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment and in food and feed in Saxony-Anhalt. The 1st report was published in january 1996.   more...

Related articles:
Dioxin contamination of the Elbe and its tributaries (Förstner, 2011)
Dioxin contamination of the River Elbe in Saxony-Anhalt (LHW, 2007)
 uba 

International
 
 2012-08-09 USA and Vietnam begin removal of Agent Orange
The United States Embassy in Hanoi announced the start of a project to clean up dioxin-contaminated soils in Vietnam. In cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence soils are 'detoxified' by thermal desorption over the next few years.   more... 		uba 

Federation/Laender
 
 2012-08-09 Aurich - stamp numbers of contaminated eggs
The Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Regional Development informed about the current state on investigations in the context of high dioxin levels in the district of Aurich. The stamp number of contaminated eggs is published on the web portal of Lower Saxony.   mehr... 		uba 
 
 2012-07-16 LANUV: eel warning
The State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection NRW (LANUV) has determined contaminations with dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in a measurement program and recommends not to consume self-caught wild eel. LANUV president Dr. Heinrich Bottermann: "Environmental pollution with PCBs fills me with deep concern, although the substance isn't produced since a long time, it's still present everywhere in the environment, because it is not degraded. Therefor PCBs are also found in our food."   more... 		uba 
 
 UPB Environmental Specimen Bank publishes soil profile
On the website of the Environmental Specimen Bank the environmental medium soil is in the focus. In addition to sampling strategies and further informations on specific sampling areas, analytes and matrices are available. The searchable database covers a study period from 2002 to 2006.   more... 		uba 
 
 2012-06-01 PCB eggs from Oldenburg: source identified
"The reason for the maximum value exceedances with non-dioxin-like PCBs (ndl-PCBs) in eggs of a factory from the Oldenburg district has now been identified. High levels of ndl-PCBs and dioxins have been detected in an asphalt material. The Material could have been absorbed by the laying hens.
In early May, the maximum value exceedance in eggs of this factory was published in the national press. Noted were 80 ng ndl-PCBs per gram egg fat - only 40 nanograms are permitted".   more... 		uba 
 
 2012-05-21 NRW: new stamp numbers of contaminated eggs released
Elevated dioxin and PCB levels, detected in self-monitoring, led to the closure of a laying hen factory in the district of Borken. The responsible Ministry for Consumer Protection and the LANUV published stamp numbers to identify affected products.  more... 		uba 
 
 2012-04-18 Soil analysis in the sourrounding field of a poultry factory in Minden
The State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection published a report on soil analyzes in connection with the observed increase in dl-PCB levels in eggs. Free-range areas were analyzed, the results were compared with uncontaminated specimens.  more... 		uba 
 
 2012-04-17 Ministry of Agriculture of Schleswig-Holstein plans mandatory testing of slaughter cattle from certain areas
The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas Schleswig-Holstein prepares a mandatory inspection program for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs of 20 slaughterhouses.  more... 		uba 
 
 2012-04-04 NRW published stamp numbers of contaminated eggs
Analyses results from organic eggs of a company in NRW were above permitted maximum levels of dioxin-like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). For consumers it is now possible to spot products from the affected brand. The stamp number of affected eggs was published on the website of the Consumer Protection Department.  more... 		uba 
 
 2012-03-08 Notification and reporting obligations - reports of BVL
Under the new Regulation on notification and reporting obligations (see announcement dated 2012-02-01) and in accordance with § 44a of federal law on food and feed (LFGB), quarterly reports on analytical activities to dioxins and PCBs are published by the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). The following link gvies access to the report for the 4th quarter 2011.  more... 		uba 

Research Projects
 
 BY Bavarian resaerch about contaminants in breast milk
Part of the study was the inter alia presence of PCDD/F and dl-PCBs in breast milk, based on results of current measurements. The health care report is the most recent scientific publication (Download) about breast milk exposure. In 2005 the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment evaluated residues of flame retardants in breast milk (Download).
 by

Press Releases
 
 2012-02-01 New Regulation on notification and reporting obligations
As a result of the dioxin contaminations in 2010/2011, resulting in increased levels of harmful dioxins in the food chain, for food and feed business operators a duty to organize their own checks on dioxin and PCB pollution in food and feed was ordered, beginning 2012-05-01. In a Regulation (download) for notification and reporting obligations of health harming substances, these requirements are being precised.   more... 		  uba
 
 2011-11-16 Beet pollution - cause known
About the reported dioxin contamination in a sugar beet factory early October, new details on the causes were discovered. A contamination in the process water of a gas scrubber, wich cleans involved process gases of toxins, was identified as the source of exposure.   more... 		  uba
 
 2011-11-07 Self-monitoring in sugar production shows dioxin traces
"A sugar manufacturer detected in feed, which were produced in one of its factories in North Rhine-Westphalia, exceeding maximum values of dioxin by self-monitoring. The contaminated feed was already extracted and fed to livestock."  more... 		  uba
 
 2011-10-06 Guide on sustainable chemicals
In the current publication of the Federal Environment Agency, the sustainable handling of chemicals is described. The document addresses producers "to implement sustainable chemicals in companies every day" and treats the waste stage of substances. About incineration processes for disposal purposes the risk of formation of dioxins and furans is noted.  more... 		  uba

Federation/Laender
 
 GER Benchmark of political activity on dioxins
Information in the context of dioxins is reported daily - growth rates, percentage changes in activity, discussion topics are being documented in different internet databases. The aggregated data flows in evaluations of the online-activity of political groups and national associations.  more... 		  uba

Press Releases
 
 2011-10-06 Dioxin-like messenger involved in brain tumor growth
Current research results in Heidelberg proof a relation between the molecule kynurenine and various types of cancer. Kynurenine activates the dioxin receptor (scientific name: arylhydrocarbon receptor) wich has very similar effects as dioxin. The context in which the body's own molecules are associated with environmental toxins is not yet known. more... 		  uba

Federation/Laender
 
 2011-09-01 New law from 1 September 2011
The federal government realizes parts of the Action Plan "Consumer protection in the feed medium-chain" with amending the food and feed law. The new rules will include private laboratories in the duty to inform competent authorities about overruns. more... 		  uba

Press Releases
 
 2011-08-24 Federal Environment Ministry presents guidelines
The guide (primarily addressed to livestock farmers) informs about avoidable sources of exposure and the current state of regulatory measures for the prevention of dioxin and PCBs in the food production. more... 		  uba

International
 
 ITA Incineration in Naples: Dioxin in ambient air
In the third-largest city in Italy, the garbage disposal is broken, landfills are overflowing. The garbage piles up on the streets of Naples and is burned - massive dioxin enters the environment in an uncontrolled manner. With help of the National Institute of Health, Minister Ferruccio Fazio wants to study increased risks for respiratory disease.  more... 		   uba

Press Releases
 
 2011-06-18 High dioxin concentrations in rivers of Saxony-Anhalt
According to recent investigations by the State Office for flood protection (LWH), in the rivers Elbe, Saale, Mulde and Bode (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany) very high concentrations of dioxin were sustained. "Since both dioxin and HCH is extremely durable, we assume that the strain will probably be very high for decades", says Henning Burkhard, director of the LHW. These recent observations agree with case studies of the University of Hamburg. In a documentary by Professor Ulrich Förstner (Feb 2011) the issue of dioxin contamination of the Elbe and its inflows is noted.  download 		  uba

International
 
 USA Elimination of environmental damage in Vietnam
In an actual statement the U.S. embassy announced the start of the elimination of environmental damage caused by the dioxin-containing defoliant Agent Orange. During the Vietnam War about 80 million tons of this Dioxin was sprayed, which is responsible for malformations in newborns and an increased cancer risk.  Background Information 		  uba

Federation/Laender
 
 2011-05-23 EnTox: Recent scientific knowledge on PCBs
At this year's EnTox symposium from 19 May - 20 May, environmental researchers presented important new insights. Thus, the half-lives of low-chlorinated Polychlorinated Biphenlyes (PCBs) are significantly higher than previously thought.  more... 		  uba

International
 
 ITA Dioxin-contaminated eels - Italy bans sale
On May 17th the Italian Ministry of Health signed a regulation with urgent actions to reduce risks to human health through consumption of contaminated eels from the lake Garda. The plan intends screening for presence of dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs in samples of eel, shad, whitefish, pike, perch and tench.  more... 		  uba

Federation/Laender
 
 NI Fish from rivers in Lower Saxony - dioxin warning
Research results of a sampling of Lower Saxony river segments show exceeded allowable limits for dioxin. For consumption of eel and bream an explicit warning was given.  more... 		  uba

Press Releases
 
 2011-04-20 For Easter: Comprehensive product and health information
During the dioxin crisis the application "barcoo" gave consumers the possibility to reveal eggs from one of the infected farms. In the current Easter season the useful program converts current mobile phones into barcode scanners that display information about food and health.  more... 		  uba
 
 2011-03-31 Agriculture Conference in Jena - dioxin and radiation on the agenda
In the spring conference of the German Agriculture Ministers in Jena current issues of radiation and dioxin contamination of foods are discussed. more... 		  uba
 
 2011-03-29 BMELV - authorization requirement for feed producers
According to the draft regulation, businesses that want to produce feed fats or animal fats need to pass a strict authorization process. In addition, these companies need to separate their production flows clearly.   more... 		  uba
 
 2011-03-23 Dioxin levels in breast milk declining
In a recent press release by the Federal Office for Risk Assessment declining levels in breast milk (analysis period: 1986-2009) are announced.  more... 		  uba

Federation/Laender
 
 BVL FAQ: Dioxins in feed and food
The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety presents an information service about the current dioxin issue with answers to frequently asked questions about the contamination situation. On the site you will find information about affected food, limits, labels and more.  more... 		  uba

Press Releases
 
 2011-03-04 Dioxin scandal: Feed oil contamination from earlier delivery
Further searches of the official feed authority have shown that dioxin contamination came from a feed mixing oil delivery from Hessen of December 22nd.  more... 		  uba
 
 2011-02-24 German dioxin crisis management receives compliment from EU
"The German authorities have been working very efficiently and ensure its preventive approach, a high level of security." informed the EU Commission in Brussels. According to EU figures, the number of potentially affected companies declined from 4760 to 49 farms.  more... 		  uba
 
 2011-01-25 Dioxin scandal called for Europe-wide consistent approach
"The consequences of the recent dioxin crisis must be considered European. National unilaterals help us any further as the markets for food-mixer and fat foods are European." - A response from Dr. Horst Schnellhardt, member of European Parliament.  more... 		  uba
 
 2011-01-21 Origin of current dioxin pollution - DioxinDB investigations
The UBA had compared the feed illegally added fatty acids with about 46,000 samples of soil, air, plants and animals in its dioxin database. The origin of the current levels of dioxin in animal feed, eggs and meat are still not fully clarified.informed.  more... 		  uba
 
 2011-01-21 Dioxin patterns of animal feedstuff found in technical fats
New results in dioxin scandal: The NRW Ministry of Consumer Protection can announce the first success in tracking the dioxin pattern in the current feed scandal. The competent public prosecutor was informed.  more... 		  mnrw
 
 2011-01-10 Dioxin in the environment - Interview with M. Rappolder (UBA)
Talk of the WDR with Marianne Rappolder, biologist and researcher of the Federal Environment Agency, entitled "Dioxin in the environment". In the 5-minute interview possible sources, the durability and reduction of the pollution are cited.  download 		   audio

Federation/Laender
 
 2011-01-04 Dioxin in feeding fats - civil informations of Lower Saxony
An official analysis of egg samples in Lower Saxony has uncovered a violation of the upper limiting values for dioxin. The state ministry released a summary of the events and important consumer information (incl. code-numbers of contaminated eggs).  more... 		  ns
 
 info Background information about dioxins
Consumers in Germany are concerned about actual violations of upper limiting values for dioxins in meat and egg products.

Further information can be accessed here:

UBA     - Background information about dioxins and dioxin-like PCB
BMELV - Informations about foodstuff and animal feedstuff monitoring
BfR      - Information about dioxin in animal feedstuff 		   info

Press Releases
 
 2010-12-19 North Rhine-Westphalia - valid limiting values exceeded
An analysis of cattle has proven an exceedance of limiting values for dioxins and PCB in one of four animals (free-range).  more... 		rinder

Resaearch projects
 
 2010-12-08 Analysis of exposition and observation of dioxin and dl-PCB transfer
The actual areas requiring further research considering the group of elements were determined within this project. The Fraunhofer Institute released the final report.  Download

fh

Press Releases
 
 2010-10-12 Envio PCB affair in Dortmund - values regressive
After a long term of high-rang PCB values at the port of Dortmund, the impact of the poison is finally declining. The regional office of Arnsberg announced a reduction of the dioxin, PCB and furan values - but the state is still alarming.  Download 		pcb
 
 2010-09-24 Dioxin alarm in Thai garbage incineration devices
„The citizens of Hua Thanon chant 'We are scared of poisons like dioxin!'. They accuse that cases of death and illness appeared near incineration devices."  more... 		muell
 
 2010-09-22 Polybrominated biphenyls in foodstuff - EFSA scientific expertise
The European commission ordered the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) to generate a scientific report about the appearance of polybrominated biphenyls in foodstuff. The report and a summery were released in English language.  more... 		efsa
 
 2010-06-10 Environmental damaging by perfluorooctane compounds in foams
"Chemicals containing fluorine are extremely persistent, in bodies of water they are transported worldwide. Some elements of this group are known to accumulate in the human body, with poisonously effects. It is necessary to prevent these substances from attaining into the environment. But, as a matter of course, in an urgent fire the protection of human life is prior to environmental aspects."  more... 		   feuer
 
 2009-06-01 POPs - the days of the "dirty dozen" are numbered
"Part of the business of the Federal Ministry for the Environment in the field of chemicals is the so called 'dirty dozen', it contains 12 persistent organic pollutants." - Background information about dangerous chemicals by BMU  more... 		pop
 
 2009-02-26 Protection against contaminated sheep liver
"The Federal Ministry for the Environment verifies the need of a nationwide recommendation about a limited consumption of dioxin contaminated sheep liver"  more... 		bmu

International
 
 BAFU Survey about PCB-pollution of waters and fish released
On the basis of 1300 datasets from the past 20 years, consisting of measure-ments of PCB and dioxins in fish of Swiss rivers and seas, an appraisal about the situation in Switzerland was made.  Download 		swiss
 
 EFSA EFSA-survey about PCB-contamination of food and feeding stuff
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) released an analysis of concentrations of dioxins and related chemicals in food and feeding stuff. The report, that was created by the expositional and data acquisition unit of EFSA, is based on 7000 samples, collected between 1999 and 2008 in 21 European countries.  more...

efsa

Federation/Laender
 
 BfR Validation of dioxin in eggs - BfR from Mai 5th, 2010
Related to an alarm in the EU warning system, the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) advised the BfR to validate the dioxin-measurements in eggs. The results are now present in an official statement.  more... 		egg
 
 UBA PCB- and dioxin-contamination of certain food: further research
Analysis of the data determined while the conference of the working group on dioxins (on June 17th 2009).  more... 		uba
 
 UBA Guideline "Prevent entries of dioxin and PCB in food" (BMU June 2009)
"In compliance with or exclusion of the above criteria, the risk of contamination with dioxins and PCBs in the area of poultry, cattle, sheep and pigs can be reduced significantly."  more... 		lebensm
 
 UBA Dioxin database - Report on the state of the environment
The central documentation and evaluation of the investigation initiated by federal and state programs for the dioxin contamination of the environment. On the basis of a quality assurance and update on recent inventory evaluation and assessment of data collected in Germany.  more... 		map_de
 
 UBA News on chemicals and pollutants policy - REACH
The Federal Environment Agency will present news and headlines on topics of European chemicals policy.  more... 		chem


hoch up                                                                                                                                            hoch

data
map

      deutsch | english